Change Management

"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change". -Charles Darwin

The world today is changing faster than ever before. Technological developments, financial constraints, expanding markets, restructure and mergers, new philosophies and government legislation are all putting pressure on organizations to change. Yet the process of change is far easy from easy, and implementing it successfully makes considerable demands on the managers involved.

In our fast moving, highly competitive global marketplace, change is continuously required, if an organization is to remain competitive. A company can't remain on the cutting edge by standing still. The key to effective organizational performance lies in the competence and commitment of the people. The clue to effective and successful management lies in understanding the nature of people, their behavior, drives, hopes, fears and expectations, and the circumstances and activities necessary to bring the best act of them. To respect and value people is a basic pre-requisite for effective managing of human resources so organizations have to create the conditions for fostering managements need to create structures and cultures that are positive and organic and develop individuals and groups to their full potential to face emerging challenges.

Kinds of change:

At present scenario basically four kinds of change process is emerging and prevailing in any economy.

1. The first kind of change is the overall change in structures, composition and management of the company because of various mergers and amalgamations taking place in companies. These mergers and amalgamations are of three types. First one is of Vertical mergers, i.e, merger of small organization with a bigger organization. The second one is Horizontal mergers, i.e., similar kinds and strengths coming together to form a big company,. The third is cross mergers, i.e, different types of companies collaborating to capture more market share and size.

2. The second kind of change process begins in an organization when a new product is launched in a market. Further this kind of change is made for two reasons, that is, follow market skimming to earn Goodwill, money and reputation in the market. The second policy is of market penetration just to capture more market share and to expand customers base by lesser price policies.

3. The third aspect of change is incorporated whenever a new leadership is introduced in an organization. This result into major shiftovers from in policy to another which can sometime lead to productive changes and sometime can attract retaliations from the staff members.

4. The technological advancements and latest developments is the fourth major driving force to initiate the change process in any organization, because it can result into major capital expenditures and complete change of existing structures.

Major Preparation for change:

For any organization to incorporate the change it must prepare in advance and follow some of the following mentioned steps to handle Change:

1. To implement any kind of change the first and foremost an important element is that the leaders must be respected and effective in the management so that they are effective enough to enforce the change process easily.

2. Secondly the motivational processes and techniques must be carried in such a planned way and manner that each and every employee must be highly motivated enough to implement the change easily.

3. Thirdly an organization must remove the aspect of Complacency in it. This can be done by

- Generating in formations about organizations situations about current and prospective problems.

- Creating opportunities for employees to educate management about dissatisfaction and problems.

- Creating a dialogue on the data and statistics so collected and generated.

- Setting very high standards and expect people to meet them.

Conclusion: - Change is a complex phenomenon. Whenever an organization imposes new things on people there will be difficulties. Participation, involvement and full communication are the important factors to bring effective change process in an organization.

Atul Shiva is a Lecturer in Commerce in Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, Ludhiana. I have done M.Com from Panjab University, CHandigarh with specialisation in Accounting and Finance. My major area of interest is Management, Acccounting, and Economics. I desire to be a Principal of a reputed college in my life.